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Sooner or later, even our car tires had to get smart. Goodyear has partnered with tech-focused companies to integrate tire intelligence into their tires.
This innovation involves collecting real-time data about the condition of your tires, which can help with scheduling replacements, getting maintenance, and preventing accidents. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company shared this development at their first appearance at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Notably, Goodyear has also brought their famous Goodyear Blimp to the show.
Previously, Goodyear announced a $100 million corporate venture fund at CES, but this is their first time on the show floor. Even after 126 years in business, they’re still making significant strides.
In an interview with Chris Helsel, senior vice president of global operations and CTO at Goodyear, we discussed these advancements. Tire intelligence involves gathering data on tire wear and predicting how long tires will last or perform in emergencies.
Goodyear’s SightLine, a suite of tire intelligence technologies, provides comprehensive insights into tire, vehicle, and road conditions using advanced algorithms and real-time monitoring. This marks a major step forward in transportation, promoting intelligent and sustainable mobility.
Helsel explained that by digitalizing the tire-road connection and equipping vehicle control systems with crucial insights, Goodyear aims to optimize vehicle performance and safety. Their collaboration with ZF highlights the transformative potential of tire intelligence.
Goodyear began discussing SightLine and tire intelligence in 2020, and they’ve now integrated it with ZF technology to detect and react to hydroplaning. This real-time knowledge of tire conditions is a core part of tire intelligence.
To realize their vision for safer tires and driving, Goodyear partnered with companies like TNO, ZF, TDK, and Gatik. Some of these ideas are already being implemented in market models, moving beyond just prototypes.
Helsel highlighted that Goodyear’s expertise in tire technology and their extensive tire data from testing and simulations give them a unique advantage in developing tire-integrated software solutions.
Regarding their partnership with TNO, Goodyear has collaborated to integrate tire data into anti-lock brake systems (ABS). This has shown promising potential to significantly reduce braking distances and enhance road safety. In tests, an improved ABS system incorporating tire-specific information like tire type and wear state could cut braking distance by 5.75 feet, which is crucial for preventing rear-end collisions.
Additionally, Goodyear has a booth simulation showing what it’s like to drive while hydroplaning. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were over 1.7 million rear-end crashes in 2021, nearly a third of all crashes in the U.S. This integration of tire intelligence can enhance stopping distance performance, helping drivers avoid accidents and reduce collision severity, thus improving road safety.
Goodyear’s new collaboration with TDK Corporation, an electronic components company, aims to accelerate the integration of intelligent hardware and software into tires and vehicle ecosystems. They plan to introduce a robust tire sensing system combining TDK’s expertise in software, sensors, and electronic components with Goodyear’s tire development know-how.
One challenge is the energy consumption of sensors in heavy detection mode, which can quickly drain the battery. TDK is working on building custom sensors and using energy harvesting to keep them charged, ensuring the sensors last the life of the tire with controlled sampling rates.
Jim Tran, TDK’s general manager, stated that real-time intelligence from the road to the vehicle is crucial for advancing automotive technologies. The collaboration with Goodyear aims to enhance vehicle performance, safety, and efficiency.
Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear has also integrated their SightLine technology into the vehicle motion control software from ZF, enhancing vehicle control by providing comprehensive tire and road data. This innovation helps reduce hydroplaning risks by offering predictions and optimal speed recommendations for better vehicle control.
In partnership with Gatik, Goodyear has integrated tire intelligence into autonomous driving systems. Gatik focuses on fixed, repeatable routes for safer and scalable autonomous operations, aiming for widespread deployment of autonomous trucks in 2024 and 2025.
Finally, Helsel mentioned Goodyear’s ongoing work on sustainable materials for tires, hinting at future advancements.
Overall, tire intelligence is poised to significantly enhance driving safety and performance. By continuously gathering data from tires in contact with the road, Goodyear can reduce downtime, cut costs, and improve safety. This effort aligns with the broader trend of integrating technology into traditionally non-tech products, creating smarter solutions across industries.
Helsel remarked on the ubiquitous presence of technology, emphasizing that even non-tech companies are now adopting tech-driven innovations. Though Goodyear isn’t exploring flying cars yet, the company remains interested in any future developments that involve tires. Riding the Goodyear Blimp, he noted, feels more like floating on a boat than flying.